The Green Goddess Salad ($12) is a bowl of rice noodles mixed with chopped kale and Swiss chard, dressed in a light Asian vinaigrette, dusted with toasted coconut shavings, cashews and sesame seeds. A little spicy, but more flavor than heat.

If you're nuts for arugula, don't miss the arugula salad ($8), a nest of the peppery greens blended with pickled red onion, cubes of avocado, bacon, marinated tomatoes, dried cranberries and cotija cheese. The salad is dressed in a blue cheese vinaigrette.

Details: 341 N. 75th St., Scottsdale. 480-949-8454, boondocksaz.com.

Northeast Valley

Tom's Thumb Fresh Market

It's a salad, but it's meaty. At this conglomerated grocery, coffee shop, car wash, gas station and cafe, the blue brisket salad is made with sliced brisket, tomatoes, red onions, blue cheese crumbles and toasted pecans on a bed of lettuce ($12.50).

Dig into a satisfying taco salad, a crispy taco shell stuffed with lettuce, pinto beans, tomatoes, guacamole and a choice of ground beef, shredded beef, chicken or adovada pork. Served with a side of poblano dressing ($8.99).

Details: 638 E. Warner Road, Gilbert. 480-545-2880, laristraaz.com.

Southeast Valley

Sakana

It's a little spicy, but be adventurous and stop in at lunchtime to try the calamari tempura salad: calamari (squid) tempura and jalepeño tempura in a citrus-soy tataki dressing on a mound of lettuce and garnish ($8.50).

The goat cheese and pear salad on top of spring mix greens has a supporting cast of candied walnuts, cranberries and grape tomatoes in balsamic vinaigrette ($8).

Details: 699 S. Mill Ave., Tempe. 480-967-5244, laboccapizzeria.com.

Southeast Valley

Princess Mediterranean Deli & Market

A true Mediterranean favorite is the Greek salad with chunks of lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, feta cheese and black olives ($5). You can also have it with gyro meat ($7.50) or chicken or beef shawarma ($7.50).

With the grilled chicken salad, slices of chicken are arranged on a bed of mixed greens along with candied walnuts, red onion, feta cheese, dried cranberries and apple slices. It's all tossed with an apple cider vinaigrette ($11).

If you're craving meat but think you ought to be sensible and order a salad, Sal's chef salad is your best choice. On a bed of shredded lettuce, the chef piles strips of capicola salami, moist turkey, egg, Roma tomatoes, bell peppers and black olives ($6). Have it drizzled with such dressings as creamy Italian, ranch or vinegar and oil. Little slices of toast are tucked around the edges.

Haven't you been longing for a fattoush salad? Here's your chance: a bed of romaine lettuce, topped with tomatoes, red onions, cucumbers, mint and sumac, and then dressed in a light lemon juice and olive oil vinaigrette. The salad is served with fried pita bread ($4.99 and $7.49).

This pub isn't just for St. Patrick's Day. Leave your shamrocks at home and stop by for the grilled pub steak salad, mixed greens tossed with roasted red peppers, feta cheese, toasted pumpkin seeds, house dressing and slices of marinated and grilled steak ($12.99).

Now that the triple digits have arrived, it's time to abandon stews and soups and massive hunks of meat. Here are 20 places in metro Phoenix where you can cool off with a refreshing salad, a light dish that comes in many forms.

Phoenix

Hula's Modern Tiki

Modern indeed: this Caesar salad is made with blackened chicken, cubes of fresh mango, Caesar dressing, Parmesan cheese and crunchy wonton chips ($14).

The Green Goddess Salad ($12) is a bowl of rice noodles mixed with chopped kale and Swiss chard, dressed in a light Asian vinaigrette, dusted with toasted coconut shavings, cashews and sesame seeds. A little spicy, but more flavor than heat.

If you're nuts for arugula, don't miss the arugula salad ($8), a nest of the peppery greens blended with pickled red onion, cubes of avocado, bacon, marinated tomatoes, dried cranberries and cotija cheese. The salad is dressed in a blue cheese vinaigrette.

Details: 4341 N. 75th St., Scottsdale. 480-949-8454, boondocksaz.com.

Tom's Thumb Fresh Market

It's a salad, but it's meaty. At this conglomerated grocery, coffee shop, car wash, gas station and cafe, the blue brisket salad is made with sliced brisket, tomatoes, red onions, blue cheese crumbles and toasted pecans on a bed of lettuce ($12.50).

Dig into a satisfying taco salad, a crispy taco shell stuffed with lettuce, pinto beans, tomatoes, guacamole and a choice of ground beef, shredded beef, chicken or adovada pork. Served with a side of poblano dressing ($8.99).

Details: 638 E. Warner Road, Gilbert. 480-545-2880, laristraaz.com.

Sakana

It's a little spicy, but be adventurous and stop in at lunchtime to try the calamari tempura salad: calamari (squid) tempura and jalepeño tempura in a citrus-soy tataki dressing on a mound of lettuce and garnish ($8.50).

The goat cheese and pear salad on top of spring mix greens has a supporting cast of candied walnuts, cranberries and grape tomatoes in balsamic vinaigrette ($8).

Details: 699 S. Mill Ave., Tempe. 480-967-5244, laboccapizzeria.com.

Princess Mediterranean Deli & Market

A true Mediterranean favorite is the Greek salad with chunks of lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, feta cheese and black olives ($5). You can also have it with gyro meat ($7.50) or chicken or beef shawarma ($7.50).

With the grilled chicken salad, slices of chicken are arranged on a bed of mixed greens along with candied walnuts, red onion, feta cheese, dried cranberries and apple slices. It's all tossed with an apple cider vinaigrette ($11).

If you're craving meat but think you ought to be sensible and order a salad, Sal's chef salad is your best choice. On a bed of shredded lettuce, the chef piles strips of capicola salami, moist turkey, egg, Roma tomatoes, bell peppers and black olives ($6). Have it drizzled with such dressings as creamy Italian, ranch or vinegar and oil. Little slices of toast are tucked around the edges.

Haven't you been longing for a fattoush salad? Here's your chance: a bed of romaine lettuce, topped with tomatoes, red onions, cucumbers, mint and sumac, and then dressed in a light lemon juice and olive oil vinaigrette. The salad is served with fried pita bread ($4.99 and $7.49).

This pub isn't just for St. Patrick's Day. Leave your shamrocks at home and stop by for the grilled pub steak salad, mixed greens tossed with roasted red peppers, feta cheese, toasted pumpkin seeds, house dressing and slices of marinated and grilled steak ($12.99).